High-class Starcraft gelding Property gave connections plenty to ponder following his impressive win in Saturday's $200,000 Group III Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield.
Not entered for the $1.5 million Group I Blue Diamonds Stakes, Property will need a $55,000 late entry fee to take his place in the field.
Second behind the unbeaten Catchy (Fastnet Rock) over 1100 metres at Caulfield when making his career debut on January 7, the Robert Smerdon-trained gelding broke his maiden in style at his most recent start in the Listed Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26.
With Craig Williams in the saddle, Property defeated the fast-finishing favourite Pariah (Redoute's Choice) by three-quarters of a length with the pacesetting Wait For No One (Lonhro) a short-head back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).
"I love the way he has come from one run to another," Williams said.
"He sprung the
"When I asked him to quicken at the top of the straight, he showed really good acceleration and was tough late."
Smerdon said managing owner David Price would decide whether to pay the late entry fee for the Blue Diamond.
"It's not my money and not my call," Smerdon said.
"He certainly had to win today to warrant it.
"It's a lot of money and he's one of the main contenders.
"Our game plan was to be positive and be right on the speed.
"They went a little bit more frantic than we anticipated and he was three back and three out. I was scratching my head – how to you get three wide from barrier three but I know Craig's explanation would be I was in a position to go where I wanted to go.
"He shapes as the horse with the race brain and smarts to run the 1200 (metres) out."
A $130,000 purchase from the Amarina Farm draft the 2016 Classic Yearling sale, Property is the third foal of the unraced Anabaa (USA) mare Opalize whose dam Opal Fire is a sister to Group I Futurity Stakes and Group I CF Orr Stakes winner Desert Sky (Hurricane Sky).
Purchased for just $2,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale, Opalize was not covered for the two seasons following the birth of Property but was served by Newgate Farm's Sizzling last spring.
Property is one of 17 stakes-winners for Starcraft who started his career at Arrowfield Stud before transferring to Rosemont Stud in Victoria in 2014.
